SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune Akin Ayodele hauls LaDainian Tomlinson down by the ankle on a gain of 11 yards, the running back's largest gain of the day.

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MIAMI – Almost, again. The Chargers lost their first two games by a combined three points. Their third loss, 17-10 to the Dolphins yesterday, was by a touchdown, but also by a yard. And a half. As in another horrific first half.

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• Play behind center may be the root of offensive woes
• Dolphins offense not 'wild'
• Pennington has been real pain for Chargers
• LT, Gates again hindered by injuries
• Highlights by quarter
• Voice of the fans
• Chargers statistics
• Taste of winning isn't so rare for Miami this year

MIAMI – To the thousands of fans who chose AC, to leave their chairs empty and not take their Sunday afternoon sauna in Dolphins Stadium, we salute your cool judgment. For the Chargers players and coaches who also declined to attend en masse, we only can ask: What the hell is wrong with you?

BOSTON – Francisco Rodriguez's biggest save of a record-breaking season came in a tie game. Rodriguez wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th inning to save the Angels' season, Mike Napoli hit two early homers before scoring the go-ahead run in the 12th and Los Angeles avoided another playoff sweep by beating the Boston Red Sox 5-4 last night in a game that lasted 5 hours, 19 minutes.